On Nov. 3, 2009, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind issued a fatwa against the singing of Vande Mataram. Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram was reportedly present at the convention.
My reactions:
1. We (a country which boasts itself to be a 21st century superpower) must decide once and for all - which rulebook is the largest democracy in the world going to follow: the 20th century constitution or the 7th century quran. Vande Mataram is recognised as the National Song and is given a status equivalent to that of the National Anthem Jana-gana-mana. (http://india.gov.in/knowindia/national_song.php). This means that the fatwa in question is indirectly defaming the nation itself. It is unconstitutional.
2. We (the only place in the world where all the 23 sects of Islam coexist, the only place where jews and parsis have not been tortured) must decide the limits of our tolerance regarding the growing intolerance of Jehadis. We have already truncated the National Song to suit them. We have compromised on the national flag and the national language. Where/when will it stop ?
3. The moderate amongst the muslims (who keep on insisting after every terrorist attack that the real Islam is not like this) must come out and do whatever it takes to correct this image of Islam being anti-India. (Thankfully a little bit is already happening: http://news.oneindia.in/2009/11/05/fatwa-issued-by-ignorants-muslim-groups.html)
4. Shri. Chidambaram has explained that he was not present while the fatwa was being issued. It's hard to believe the politicians in general, but even if we accept this, the question is what would he do if he were present - would he dare to walk out of the convention? And what action is he going to take - in the capacity of the home minister - on those deshadrohis after knowing about the fatwa?
5. Interestingly, the same convention has asked the UPA to stop appeasing the minorities.
6. So called secular parties like SP and Congress have once again attacked the so called Hindu parties like BJP for speaking up on behalf of the majority on this issue. This has a major side-effect: Politicization of Vande Mataram. All such issues of national importance have been gradually politicized and associated with parties like BJP. This gives an image that only one party is concerned about these issues and when it fails to deliver when in power, the cause is put on the back-burner forever, because the other parties won't do it, and the junta won't trust BJP anymore.
I would like to re-emphasize that the moderate muslims must decide how long are they going to be in their shells. The fundamentalists keep on issuing such fatwas by shouting इस्लाम खतरे में. The moderates maintain that their islam is not the real islam. In that case, I think the real islam (of the moderate muslims) is really खतरे में. and the onus is on them to save it. All over the world, islam has acquired an image of an intolerant, cruel, illogical religion. If the moderates want to change this image, now is the time.
